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How Do You Catch Wild Snakes?

Spitfire

Spitfire

Snakeless
Well this might belong in another category but I couldn't decide so I just picked this one. Anyways, does anyone know how to catch a wild snake. So you use traps and stuff? How should they be set up? Etc., you know that kind of stuff. Also, I live in like central Texas and the climate has been pretty wet lately so could that be a factor? The is a huge pond like thing behind my house and I've heard there are grass snakes out there. And one more question, are grass snakes really snakes?
 
you have to walk real slowly and quietly and wisper in a small voice "hear snake,here little snakey" wistleing between calls may help you.
bryan
 
1. Go outside
2. Look for snakes

:D

Seriously you guys, snakes will start getting active again in the March-April timeframe. During the spring, late morning and early afternoon is a good time to look for them.

The best thing to do is get involved with the DFW Herp Society. Local clubs often have herping trips on the weekends to a state parks or a zoo. An experienced field herper can show you a lot of tricks that make the difference between a rewarding trip versus a long day.

Here is a link to their website: DFWHS
 
Hehe, it's been well over 10 years since I've caught snakes outside (I was a total tom-boy :) )

You just find a snake and grab it (assuming you are talking about corns or something non-venemous). Just be firm but gentle, you don't want to hurt or upset it, but you want to grab it and not make it bite you. I don't know how often wild adult corns bite, but I would assume that if you scared it too much, it would.

If you are gonna be scared or something, maybe use a snake hook. That might also make it easier to grab if it's in some brush or something.

Grass snakes? I am not familiar with them, am I correct to assume that they are similar to garter snakes? If I'm right, then they are probably pretty slender and long, and fast. I don't think a snake hook would be that useful in this situation. As a kid my dad made a snake catching thing for my brother, it was basically a broom handle with a rope threaded through eyelets, so its like a rope that you trap them in. But I don't think he ever caught anything with it, and it could hurt the snake, it was probably more of a security kind of thing.
 
I kinda meant like setting up traps to catch snakes. You know just like there's rabbit traps and stuff. Even if you just decided to go outside and look for snakes, where would you look. Where do snakes hide? Where should I look first? Should I be concerened with having to use a hook if there aren't any venomous snakes around where I live? I'm pretty sure there aren't but I could be wrong.
 
I doubt you'd want to mess with what you might catch

Some of the most venomous snakes in North America are right here in Texas. ;)

Try to find a copy of A Field Guide to Texas Snakes by Alan Tennant. It is probably the single best source for the more than 100 snake species of Texas. I have a field hook and a set of tongs that I always take on trips. Besides, even if you don't need them, they are quite the conversation starter with other hikers. ;)

In order to find snakes, you need to become familiar with snake behavior. It helps to know which species are nocturnal, which species live around riparian areas, and which ones are more likely to sun on rock piles. Also, learn to look for, and identify other reptiles, amphibians and arachnids. There is always something interesting to find, if you just know where to look.

You might not know it Sam, but Texas has diverse and magnificent native species. Every spring, folks come from all over the world to herp the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. I recommend again checking out one of the DFW meetings in you have the opportunity.
 
Yes, there are many kinds of "traps" for reptiles, including snakes, but listing them in a public forum that anyone can access would be astonishingly irresponsible. No offense...you could be the most responsible herpetologist on the planet, but there are people who could read this that could totally wrongfully exploit the herpetofauna of their areas with such information. If you're really serious about "herping," take CAV's advice and look into your local professional herptological society. I'm sure if you were involved with such a group that you would have many opportunities for learning about herp sampling techniques and a chance to use them yourself. It's wonderful that you're interested in snakes, but I think you'll appreciate what such information could do in the wrong person's hands.
 
Yes I think I'll pic up a copy of the field guide. (It's kinda huge to be a field guide though, isn't it?) I'll check out the Herp Society meetings if I get the chance. Is there like anything you have to sign up for? And is there like a certain age you have to be to get into one?
 
Is there like a certain age you have to be to get into one?
Click to expand...

Most herp club meetings are rather informal. We have attendees from age 5-75. There is usually a "herp of the month" or some sort of professional presentation. Just send them an email and ask for some info.


It's kinda huge to be a field guide though, isn't it?
Click to expand...

It is a small paperback. THere is a range map, discription and great color photos of each snake species.
 
Spitfire said:
(It's kinda huge to be a field guide though, isn't it?)
Click to expand...

My mistake. I was thinking of a different book. I picked up a copy today rom the library. It's really great. Its got all the info on a bunch of snakes and it has pics.
 
huh, im from england... you actually go outside and catch a snake then keep it ? then breed them to get cool morphs? lol sounds abit like pokemon
 
Matt_elliot said:
huh, im from england... you actually go outside and catch a snake then keep it ? then breed them to get cool morphs? lol sounds abit like pokemon
Click to expand...

Catching wild snakes and breeding them to existing stock brings new blood into the lines. This helps eliminate problems of inbreeding.
 
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